Why Kate Middleton Won't Be Meghan Markle's Bridesmaid

In just three days, Prince Harry and Meghan Marklewill wedat Windsor Castle in what issureto be a fantastic, star-studded affair. As royal watchers eagerly await the big day, everyone is wondering what role Harry's famous family will play in the highly-anticipated nuptials. In April, Kensington Palaceconfirmedthat Prince William will be Prince Harry's best man, but how involved willCatherine, Duchess of Cambridge, be on the big day?

The short answer? Not very. Mostly because, as royals expert and author, Marlene Koenig puts it, "the Duchess of Cambridge barely knows Meghan."

"For another, she is the future queen consort when William becomes king after his father, and would unlikely be an attending person to another royal bride," explains Koenig.

Earlier this month,Kensington Palaceconfirmed that Meghan wouldnothave a maid of honor at all and on Wednesday the names of all tenbridesmaidsandpage boyspicked by Harry and Meghan were released. The official list doesn't include Kate, but does incorporate her childrenPrince George, 4,andPrincess Charlotte, 3, who will reprise their bridal attendant roles after appearing in Pippa Middleton's wedding last May.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's engagement photos.

Since the roles of maid of honor and bridesmaid are generally reserved for single ladies, the only title Kate could have held, if she were to have participated in the wedding party, was matron of honor. It's essentially the same as a maid of honor, except "matron" refers to a married woman, says Koenig. "[Catherine] was not a matron of honor, even at her sister's wedding."

Indeed, Kate chose to forgo the honor, so as not to overshadow Pippa on her big day in May 2017. “Kate would upstage her sister,” veteran royals author Judy Wade told People magazine prior to the wedding in 2016. “It’s a tricky situation for Pippa. She would want her sister by her side, as who else would she trust to make things go well? But if your sister is a future Queen, she is going to upstage the bride and draw attention. Kate would want to be in the background as much as possible.”

IMAGE GETTY IMAGES/MAX MUMBY/INDIGO/GETTY IMAGES

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Pippa and Kate after her wedding on May 20, 2017, in Englefield Green, England.

In Britain, the bride goes down the aisle first, followed by her attendants or bridesmaids and page boys holding the train.

IMAGE GETTY IMAGES/MIKE MARSLAND/WIREIMAGE

At Kate's wedding in 2011, her train was carried by Pippa, who served as her bridesmaid and wore a neckline-plunging, form-fitting ivory Alexander McQueen gown that nearly broke the Internet.

IMAGE GETTY IMAGES/MAX MUMBY/INDIGO/GETTY IMAGES

ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

Prince George and Princess Charlotte at Pippa's wedding.

As for Markle's family, the former actress only has one sibling, her estranged half-sister, Samantha, who has reportedly been working on a memoir about their family, titled The Diary of Princess Pushy's Sister and unsurprisingly doesn't appear to be invited. Her father, Thomas Markle, will not be attending the wedding after much back and forth.

Our thoughts on who else will be invited to the royal wedding, right this way.